Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 10, No. 8, August 2019 | pp. 64–72

DOI: 10.46882/2019/GJPCS/100801

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: The Geopolitics of Private Intelligence Networks: Assessing the Impact of Commercial Cyber-Surveillance Tools on Democratic Dissidence

Authors: Alexei V. Volkov¹, Nadia M. Al-Shari²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Information Security, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia; ²School of Computing and Informatics, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract:
The global proliferation of highly sophisticated, commercial-grade cyber-surveillance software has altered the landscape of political dissidence and state-backed intelligence gathering. This article explores how private tech firms lease advanced zero-click surveillance tools to hybrid regimes and analyzes the structural impacts of these tools on investigative journalism and opposition groups. Using an analytical framework that combines digital forensic tracking with international human rights law, we analyze cyber-intrusion cases documented between 2017 and 2019 across multiple continents. The digital forensic evidence demonstrates that the deployment of these targeted surveillance applications systematically compromises private devices without user interaction, creating severe operational hazards for civil actors. Quantitative vulnerability models show that states utilizing commercial cyber-spyware experience a 62% reduction in public accountability indicators and a sharp increase in arbitrary political detentions. The study highlights how a complete lack of binding international export regulations enables tech firms to profit from suppressing domestic democratic movements. We conclude that safeguarding global civil rights requires establishing strict international legal mechanisms that criminalize the unregulated export of offensive cyber-weapons.

Keywords: Cyber-Surveillance; Private Intelligence; Zero-Click Spyware; Democratic Dissidence; Human Rights; Digital Forensics

Manuscript Timeline: Received: January 05, 2019; Revised: March 18, 2019; Accepted: May 02, 2019; Published: August 15, 2019

Citation: Volkov, A. V., & Al-Shari, N. M. (2019). The Geopolitics of Private Intelligence Networks: Assessing the Impact of Commercial Cyber-Surveillance Tools on Democratic Dissidence. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 10(8), 64–72. DOI: 10.46882/2019/GJPCS/100801

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 10, No. 7, July 2019 | pp. 55–63

DOI: 10.46882/2019/GJPCS/100701

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: The Impact of UN Peacekeeping Mandates on Civilian Safety: A Comparative Analysis of MINUSMA Operations in Central Mali

Authors: Amina J. Diallo¹, Viktor I. Morozov²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Bamako, Bamako, Mali; ²Department of International Security Studies, Moscow State Institute of International Relations, Moscow, Russian Federation

Abstract:
The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) operates within an asymmetric security landscape where peacekeepers are frequently targeted by violent non-state actors. This paper evaluates the operational effectiveness of MINUSMA's civilian protection mandate in central Mali, focusing on the structural limits of static versus mobile force deployments from 2016 to 2018. Drawing on field data and key informant interviews with 42 humanitarian coordinators and local community leaders, we analyze the tactical constraints facing UN forces. The findings reveal that while static UN operating bases protect immediate urban centers, they leave surrounding rural villages exposed to targeted insurgent attacks and communal violence. Statistical analysis indicates that regions dependent on static peacekeeping garrisons report a 48% higher rate of rural civilian displacements following asymmetric skirmishes. The study demonstrates that a risk-averse military culture, combined with severe logistical deficits in helicopter mobility, prevents proactive patrolling beyond major transit routes. We conclude that enhancing civilian safety requires transforming peacekeeping frameworks to prioritize highly mobile, decentralized tactical units capable of rapid deployment to remote areas.

Keywords: MINUSMA; Peacekeeping Operations; Protection of Civilians; Mali Insurgency; Asymmetric Warfare; Livelihood Displacement

Manuscript Timeline: Received: December 10, 2018; Revised: February 20, 2019; Accepted: April 15, 2019; Published: July 18, 2019

Citation: Diallo, A. J., & Morozov, V. I. (2019). The Impact of UN Peacekeeping Mandates on Civilian Safety: A Comparative Analysis of MINUSMA Operations in Central Mali. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 10(7), 55–63. DOI: 10.46882/2019/GJPCS/100701

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 10, No. 6, June 2019 | pp. 46–54

DOI: 10.46882/2019/GJPCS/100601

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: Youth Radicalization, Prisons as Incubation Centers, and the Structural Limitations of Modern De-Radicalization Programs in North Africa

Authors: Driss Benali¹, Aigul N. Sadykova²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco; ²Department of International Relations, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan

Abstract:
This study investigates the structural dynamics of violent extremist recruitment within carceral institutions across North Africa, evaluating the long-term efficacy of state-sponsored rehabilitation and de-radicalization initiatives. Employing a comprehensive qualitative policy review alongside detailed behavioral case profiles of 82 former detainees, we analyze how high-security prison systems function as spaces for radical ideological transmission. The empirical evidence demonstrates that overcrowding, severe administrative isolation, and abusive disciplinary practices create an environment where vulnerable, non-violent offenders are rapidly integrated into sophisticated extremist networks. Quantitative indicators establish that states relying primarily on high-security carceral containment show a 55% higher recidivism rate among former inmates compared to states integrating community-based open rehabilitation pathways. The research highlights how current counter-radicalization frameworks fail because they focus heavily on theological re-education while ignoring the structural drivers of alienation: widespread economic exclusion and systemic judicial corruption. We conclude that sustainable security sector reform requires decouplig low-risk offenders from radical inmate populations and expanding post-release employment support structures.

Keywords: Youth Radicalization; Carceral Institutions; North Africa; De-Radicalization; Security Sector Reform; Recidivism

Manuscript Timeline: Received: November 15, 2018; Revised: January 18, 2019; Accepted: March 02, 2019; Published: June 15, 2019

Citation: Benali, D., & Sadykova, A. N. (2019). Youth Radicalization, Prisons as Incubation Centers, and the Structural Limitations of Modern De-Radicalization Programs in North Africa. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 10(6), 46–54. DOI: 10.46882/2019/GJPCS/100601

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 10, No. 5, May 2019 | pp. 37–45

DOI: 10.46882/2019/GJPCS/100501

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: The Political Economy of Post-Conflict Reconstruction: Assessing the Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Land Ownership Polarization in Rwanda

Authors: Jean-Pierre Uwimana¹, Sibusiso K. Khumalo²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Center for Conflict Management, University of Rwanda, Huye, Rwanda; ²Department of Public Law, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

Abstract:
Post-conflict states frequently prioritize attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to rebuild damaged domestic infrastructure and accelerate economic growth. This paper examines the long-term socioeconomic outcomes of this development model in Rwanda, evaluating how modern commercial agricultural concessions impact agrarian land tenure and local community stability. Utilizing extensive agrarian mapping software combined with localized household wealth surveys conducted between 2015 and 2018, we measure the structural shifts in rural land ownership patterns. The quantitative analysis reveals that large-scale state allocations of arable land to international corporate syndicates have displaced substantial numbers of smallholder farmers, creating deep-seated socio-economic grievances. Our regression models establish that rural districts with high corporate land concentration show a 42% increase in localized land tenure disputes and higher relative deprivation indices. The study demonstrates that prioritizing elite-driven commercial investment without safeguarding traditional communal land rights accelerates rural-urban migration and exacerbates social polarization. We argue that sustainable post-conflict reconstruction requires establishing strict legal frameworks that protect traditional property ownership and mandate inclusive local profit-sharing.

Keywords: Political Economy; Post-Conflict Reconstruction; FDI; Land Tenure; Rwanda; Structural Inequality

Manuscript Timeline: Received: October 12, 2018; Revised: December 20, 2018; Accepted: February 15, 2019; Published: May 20, 2019

Citation: Uwimana, J. P., & Khumalo, S. K. (2019). The Political Economy of Post-Conflict Reconstruction: Assessing the Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Land Ownership Polarization in Rwanda. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 10(5), 37–45. DOI: 10.46882/2019/GJPCS/100501

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 10, No. 4, April 2019 | pp. 28–36

DOI: 10.46882/2019/GJPCS/100401

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: The Architecture of Transnational Arms Proliferation: Tracking the Illicit Flow of Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Triborder Region

Authors: Marcus T. Vance¹, Tariq H. Al-Sabahi²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Center for Development and Emergency Practice, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom; ²Department of Political Science, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan

Abstract:
The unchecked proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) across porous international boundaries remains a primary structural driver of state fragmentation and urban violence in developing economies. This article tracks the clandestine distribution networks operating within the triborder regions of South America, focusing on how illicit arms flows adapt to state border controls. Utilizing a border-tracking framework combined with seized weapons classification data collected from 2016 to 2018, we examine the logistical networks connecting international syndicates to local urban militias. The empirical evidence demonstrates that transnational criminal cartels exploit gaps in inter-state intelligence sharing and weak maritime radar security to traffic military-grade equipment. Quantitative indicators reveal that border districts where customs patrols are uncoordinated between neighboring states face a 68% higher rate of localized firearm-related crime and black-market arms accumulation. The paper highlights the failure of unilateral, militarized border shutdowns to dismantle decentralized supply networks. We conclude that curbing illicit arms proliferation requires establishing a joint, synchronized intelligence clearinghouse alongside automated weapon serialization tracing protocols.

Keywords: Arms Proliferation; SALW; Border Security; Transnational Crime; Intelligence Sharing; Supply Networks

Manuscript Timeline: Received: September 02, 2018; Revised: November 22, 2018; Accepted: January 08, 2019; Published: April 18, 2019

Citation: Vance, M. T., & Al-Sabahi, T. H. (2019). The Architecture of Transnational Arms Proliferation: Tracking the Illicit Flow of Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Triborder Region. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 10(4), 28–36. DOI: 10.46882/2019/GJPCS/100401

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 10, No. 3, March 2019 | pp. 19–27

DOI: 10.46882/2019/GJPCS/100301

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: Evaluating Gender-Responsive Mediation Models: The Strategic Role of Women-Led Civil Coalitions in the Peace Architecture of Northern Ireland

Authors: Claire M. Dubois¹, Grace A. Akpan²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of War Studies, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; ²Faculty of Law, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria

Abstract:
While international peacebuilding theories heavily emphasize the necessity of gender inclusivity, formal peace processes routinely relegate women's organizations to informal, tracks-two diplomacy platforms. This paper evaluates the long-term structural impacts of women-led civil coalitions on the stability and institutional resilience of the peace architecture in post-conflict Northern Ireland. Utilizing a mixed-methods research framework, we combine comprehensive archival qualitative analysis of political agreements with semi-structured interviews of 54 prominent community mediators. The empirical findings indicate that the early inclusion of grassroots women's networks was critical for integrating long-term human security indicators—such as integrated housing and victim support—into the primary constitutional framework. Quantitative metrics establish that localized peace monitoring councils featuring active women-led leadership configurations report a 38% lower incidence of recurring sectarian street violence. The study demonstrates that top-down, elite-centric negotiation models fail to heal deep-seated community polarization when they exclude grassroots civil networks. We conclude that sustainable political transitions require institutionalizing binding gender quotas within all national security sector reform (SSR) committees.

Keywords: Gender-Responsive Mediation; Peace Architecture; Northern Ireland; Human Security; Grassroots Networks; SSR

Manuscript Timeline: Received: August 20, 2018; Revised: November 05, 2018; Accepted: December 12, 2018; Published: March 15, 2019

Citation: Dubois, C. M., & Akpan, G. A. (2019). Evaluating Gender-Responsive Mediation Models: The Strategic Role of Women-Led Civil Coalitions in the Peace Architecture of Northern Ireland. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 10(3), 19–27. DOI: 10.46882/2019/GJPCS/100301